The inaugural Brooks XC Championships presented by Fleet Feet lived up to the hype as the nation’s top 50 boys converged on Balboa Park in San Diego. 

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On a course steeped in cross-country history, the 2025 season came to a dramatic close, producing one of the tightest championship battles of the year.

A Race For The Ages

From the start, it was clear that Marcelo Mantecon was determined to control the race. The Florida standout led through the first mile, clocking 4:48.8, with Nicholas Mazzeo, Samuel Laverdiere, Calvin Seitz, and Brian Burns tightly chasing. Behind him, Jackson Spencer bided his time, sitting back in the pack and conserving energy for the decisive stages.

By 2.5 miles, Mantecon had opened a slim gap, reaching 12:15.7, but Spencer was steadily closing, along with Caden Leonard, Sean Fries, and Yohanes Van Meerten. The championship battle had fully formed, with every surge answered and no ground willingly surrendered.

Spencer’s Perfect Season On Display

Spencer, coming off an undefeated fall and a season defined by record-breaking wins, used every weapon in his repertoire. His weekly hill sprints and high-mileage preparation paid off as he methodically worked through the field to take the lead, all the way back from 20th place. Time and again, when it looked like Spencer had pulled away, Mantecon responded, staying glued to his shoulder and setting the stage for a finish that would go down in Brooks XC history.

A Finish To Remember

Over the final stretch, Spencer and Mantecon waged a tactical chess match at full speed. Step for step, the two stars battled, neither willing to yield. When the tape finally arrived, it was Jackson Spencer claiming the victory by the narrowest of margins, 0.2 seconds, completing a flawless undefeated season with a final time of 15:10.7. Marcelo Mantecon crossed moments later in 15:10.9, securing a legendary runner-up performance.

Caden Leonard finished third in 15:18.4, followed closely by Yohanes Van Meerten (15:21.2) and Sean Fries (15:21.6), rounding out a championship that tested every ounce of strength, strategy, and determination from the nation’s best high school runners.

Spencer’s razor-thin victory over Mantecon was the perfect finale to a 2025 season that featured countless records, statement wins, and unforgettable performances. As the fog lifted over Balboa Park, one champion emerged, but the entire field proved why the Brooks XC Championships has instantly become one of the most compelling stages in American high school cross country.

Final Results – 2025 Brooks XC Championships (Boys)

1. Jackson Spencer (West), 15:10.7

2. Marcelo Mantecon (South), 15:10.9

3. Caden Leonard (South), 15:18.4

4. Yohanes Van Meerten (West), 15:21.2

5. Sean Fries (Midwest), 15:21.6

6. Paul Van Laningham (South), 15:27.2

7. Conor Lott (West), 15:30.3

8. Calvin Seitz (Midwest), 15:33.4

9. Rocco Culpepper (Midwest), 15:35.7

10. Kavi Gibson (South), 15:36.8

11. Wyatt Dann (Midwest), 15:38.1

12. Lucas Tanner (Midwest), 15:42.3

13. Brian Burns (South), 15:44.1

14. Nicholas Mazzeo (Northeast), 15:44.6

15. Evan Spreitzer (South), 15:45.5

16. Blake Bay (West), 15:46.4

17. Nathan Lee (Northeast), 15:47.2

18. Jaden Merrick (Midwest), 15:50.8

19. Ethan Garza (South), 15:54.1

20. Mikah Peters (Midwest), 15:56.4

21. Zarian Rodriguez (West), 15:58.0

22. Cadel Ruthven (Midwest), 16:00.8

23. Aiden Le Roux (Midwest), 16:04.7

24. Benjamin Berman (Northeast), 16:05.9

25. Andres Lomeli (West), 16:07.0

26. Travis Furmanski (Northeast), 16:07.6

27. Noah Strohman (South), 16:08.9

28. Samuel Laverdiere (Northeast), 16:09.4

29. Gabriel Voelker (Midwest), 16:09.8

30. Symond Martin (West), 16:11.7

31. George Lawson (South), 16:12.4

32. Tycen LaBelle (Northeast), 16:12.9

33. Myles Jermyn (South), 16:13.4

34. Caden Bybee (West), 16:13.8

35. Malachi Burnett (South), 16:14.9

36. Sam Leone (Northeast), 16:16.7

37. Colton Cranney (West), 16:17.2

38. Josiah Bowman (West), 16:18.6

39. Kamari Ronfeldt (Midwest), 16:21.9

40. Charlie Palmore (Northeast), 16:23.0

41. Falcon Jones (West), 16:23.8

42. Michael Fritz (Northeast), 16:27.2

43. Noah Bontrager (Midwest), 16:29.6

44. Lucas Wik (Midwest), 16:37.1

45. Alex Roberts (Midwest), 16:38.9

46. Teddy Hojlo (Northeast), 16:41.8

47. Braulio Castillo (West), 16:48.0

48. Preston Sangely (South), 16:50.8

49. Ryder Strohman (South), 16:51.0

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